Presiding Over First Expanded Party Officer Meeting Since Inauguration
Large Attendance of Standing Committee Chairpersons Appointed by Han
Emergency Pro-Korean Faction Dinner Convened on 22nd to Confirm Unity
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, has once again started to strengthen internal unity amid tensions with the Yongsan Presidential Office before and after his meeting with President Yoon Seok-yeol.
At around 11 a.m. that day, Han presided over his first expanded party officers meeting since taking office at the National Assembly. The meeting was attended by the People Power Party leadership, including Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho, Secretary-General Seo Beom-su, Policy Committee Chairman Kim Sang-hoon, and numerous chairpersons of standing committees appointed by Han so far.
Some interpret that after President Yoon effectively rejected the three major demands related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee presented by Han during their meeting on the 21st, Han began efforts to organize the party atmosphere and strengthen his party leadership. This is because a stronger internal support base is necessary for Han to bring about a change in the positions of President Yoon and the Presidential Office.
Following the 6th, Han again gathered close allies for a dinner the day before, reaffirming factional unity. Despite the National Assembly audit being underway, Han convened the dinner in a 'lightning' format, and 21 incumbent lawmakers attended.
According to close allies who attended, Han listened to the participants' expressed dissatisfaction with President Yoon and the Presidential Office, and near the end of the dinner, he reportedly urged, "Let us share an understanding of the gravity of the situation and join forces to overcome it well together."
There appears to be an underlying recognition that in order for the People Power Party to attract public sentiment, which is expected to be shaken after the first trial verdict on the charges of election law violations against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, on the 15th of next month, it is necessary both to convey public sentiment to the Presidential Office and to achieve internal unity. One attendee said, "When the topic of Lee's first trial verdict came up, Han said, 'The People Power Party must be ready to uphold the public sentiment.'"
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